nto on business and Mary came back to
the old farm for a visit during his absence. Mary looked more
beautiful than ever, in her new town-made clothes, and Christina was
very proud of her as they went about the village together.

The practice for the Presbyterian Church's first of July picnic was in
full swing, and as there were no Methodists helping this year, the
Presbyterians had to do double duty. Mary went to practise with her
sisters and had a grand reunion with all the girls.

"Christine, where's Bruce to-night?" she asked, as they came up the
hill on the way home together, with Ellen walking ahead beside Annie
McKenzie.

"Bruce? I don't know," confessed Christina. "Oh, he hasn't come to
practise much since he came back from Toronto."

"No, and it's my opinion he hasn't been going to anything else,"
declared Mary. "Do you know that he has been here only once since I
came home?"

Christina listened in dismay. She had been so absorbed in her joyous
preparations for going West that she had actually not noticed what was
quite apparent to Mary.

"Maybe he and Ellen have had a lover's quarrel," she whispered
hopefully.

"Nothing of the sort," scoffed Mary. "Can you imagine any one
quarrelling with Ellen or Bruce either--and as for their quarrelling
between themselves!"

Christina was forced to admit that was extremely unlikely. And as she
watched Ellen she could not but be convinced that there was something
woefully wrong between her and Bruce.

"You couldn't think that he doesn't care for Ellen any more, could
you?" faltered Christina as she and Mary held a second conference.

"Wouldn't it be awful," cried Mary aghast. "I can't remember when
Bruce wasn't in love with Ellen and was coming here to see her. It
would be an insult to the whole family!" she cried hotly.

Christina was not concerned about the family honour, but she was very
much disturbed over Ellen. And then it was a heartbreaking thing to
lose Bruce, too. He had always seemed like a brother, and it was
almost as bad as if Neil or Sandy should become estranged.

Poor Ellen was striving hard to hide her hurt, and made heroic efforts
to explain Bruce's changed manners. He was tired with all the
unaccustomed work of the farm, he had to study at nights and that kept
him at home. She was always ready with an excuse for his unaccustomed
absence.

"Where's Bruce, Ellie?" asked her mother one Sunday evening when the
usual crowd stroll